NA President Sardar Ayaz Sadiq. PHOTO: APP
ISLAMABAD:
National Assembly Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq on Monday initiated the process to appoint the leader of the opposition in the house in accordance with parliamentary rules, directing opposition lawmakers to submit their nomination by 3:00 pm on Tuesday (today).
Presiding over the session of the National Assembly, the president told the house that the appointment was still pending because the matter was already under litigation and he had been named a party in the case. Once the judicial process is concluded, he said, the procedure could move forward.
At the beginning of the session, the house offered Fateha for the souls of the departed, including former MNA Mian Manzoor Ahmed Wattoo. The president later formally informed lawmakers that he was beginning the process for the appointment of the opposition leader.
Sardar Ayaz Sadiq directed the opposition parties to resubmit a list of members, with their signatures, to the President’s Office before the stipulated deadline, after fixing a new date for the process.
Speaking on a point of order, opposition chief Malik Aamir Dogar of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) told the house that 76 opposition members had already signed documents, nominating Mahmood Khan Achakzai as opposition leader and submitted them to the Speaker’s Office.
He demanded immediate publication of the notification, but added that in line with the president’s directive, the opposition would resubmit the list.
Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) leader Syed Naveed Qamar welcomed the start of the appointment process but sharply criticized the government for what he described as an ordinance issued without the president’s approval.
Calling it the darkest day in Pakistan’s parliamentary history, he alleged that an ordinance had been promulgated without the consent of the President, describing it as a serious constitutional violation. Declaring the measure unconstitutional, Qamar announced a PPP strike. Following his comments, the PPP legislators left the house in protest.
President Ayaz Sadiq and Justice Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar tried to persuade the PPP members to return, but their efforts were unsuccessful. The Minister of Justice assured the PPP that he would consult the relevant authorities to determine how the ordinance had been issued.
Later, PPP legislator Syed Hussain Tariq pointed out the lack of quorum. After a recount confirmed that the quorum was incomplete, the president adjourned the session until Tuesday without any procedure.
